Such fun!

Despite the multiple plan changes, we had a wonderful 4th of July! After my mom called Saturday morning, we set out to find some fireworks. We searched online and found a few options. We decided on Annapolis simply because it was closest. We decided to park at the Navy stadium and get shuttled into town. We arrived there about 6 pm, just in time to try to find a seat for the parade. We finally found a spot of curb that was empty. The only downside was that we were right next to a drainage grate and most of the candy thrown at the boys went right down the drain. (Joe later said "It wasn't so great for the candy to go down the grate") The parade was a lot of fun, but nothing like the freedom parades from my high school days. There was only one marching band, and it was from a performing arts group. There were lots of fire trucks, horses, old cars and political groups. Joe's favorite was the tiller fire truck, Tom's was the belly dancing float, and Sam's was a canine group (about 30+ dogs, many dressed in patriotic attire). Jay and I both like the floats that were decorated like boats. I, of course, had brief grand ideas about the Pasadena PBA Parade.
The parade finally ended and we had to go in search of some dinner. We were hoping for street vendors, but no such luck. We went into a small restaurant off the city dock and ordered some pizza and wraps to go. While waiting for our food, I finally sent Jay and the boys outside to listen to the Navy band so they wouldn't go crazy inside. It was very long wait for out food, over 1/2 an hour. Finally, it arrived and I had to go search out Jay and the kids. They had managed to score a small corner down on the dock. While eating, I bought three glow light necklaces and we listened to music. Even though we were quite close to the music, there were so many people that it was hard to hear. Finally at just after 9, the fireworks started. They were off to the left of where we were, but we had perfect seats. Jay always has good luck like that. The fireworks were beautiful and the finale was awe inspiring. Sammy was a little nervous the whole time as loud noises make him like that.
After the fireworks we had to walk a long way back uphill to the shuttle bus. Once we got there, we saw a line that was over a block and a half long. The line headed towards the stadium so once we got towards the end of the line, I wanted us to just keep walking. I figured it was only about a 20 minute walk. Jay hesitated because of the boys, but then decided if I was game, so was he. Jay put Sam on his shoulders and I held hands with Joe and Tom. We made it just fine with minimal complaining from the bigger boys. It was about 15 minutes back to the car.
As a kid, we always went somewhere for fireworks. There were many times were we on vacation so the place was different, but we almost always went somewhere. We were often in Arkansas with grandparents and cousins. We would all go over to the mall and sit in the grass on a blanket. Us kids would bring card games to play while we waited. I have pretty vivid memories of Uno and fireworks which would have been before 7th grade. I'm glad we had a good time and got to see some fireworks this year. Obviously, they don't celebrate July 4th in Australia. They do have Australia day in January, but that could fall during the time we are in the states.

As a side note, when I was in high school in Evansville, I was in the marching band for two years. Both years, we marched in the Freedom parade. It was part of the Freedom Festival and Thunder on the Ohio. All of the marching bands in the city participated in this parade. It was kinda a big deal. It was a very long very tiring parade for those of us marching, but at least we didn't have to do it in full uniform, just shorts and our band shirts. I haven't found any local parades like the ones I was used to. Even the West Side Fall Festival parade in Evansville had both of the west side high school bands in it.